Cold weather skin savers: Trilogy Aromatic Body Oil

I must admit I'd never been a big fan of body oils until I started using Trilogy's Aromatic Body Oil. I found the texture of lotions and creams easier to work with and wasn't fond of the way a lot of oils I had tried just seemed to sit on the surface of my skin, without absorbing in. Once I'd started using a few of Trilogy's facial skincare products, however, I was interested in trying more from the range and decided to give the Aromatic Body Oil a go.

A blend of 7 pure plant oils, the ingredient list on this bottle (as with most Trilogy products) is refreshingly simple. Rice Bran, Sweet Almond, Evening Primrose, Calendula and Avocado oils blend with Vitamin E and Trilogy's star ingredient, Rosehip oil, to form a refreshingly light but soothing body oil. Fragranced with a blend of rose, bergamot and vanilla essential oils, this also smells a lot more luxurious than many "natural" aromatherapy-type products do.

The trick with this product, as with many oils, is to apply it to damp skin. Before I towel dry after a shower, I wipe the heavy moisture off my skin with my hands and then take a small amount of oil and warm it between my palms before applying it. Applying it to damp skin makes it easier to massage in and I find I don't need to use as much as I would if applying to dry skin. It also helps to draw extra hydration into the skin's surface and by the time I've finished, I just need to gently pat my skin dry.

As well as arms and legs, I've also been applying this liberally to my ever-expanding bump. Inside I might know that no amount of creams or oils will stop the dreaded stretchmarks if they're going to appear, but that's not going to stop me trying my best to discourage them. And anyway, it stops the surface itching and dry, tight feeling I get if I don't apply anything, so I know it's doing something.

Aromatic Body Oil is currently available from http://www.bodykind.ie for a reduced price of €14.05 - the usual price is in the region of €20. The 100ml bottle looks small for this price, but it will last a lot longer than the equivalent size in a body lotion or cream would last and will protect your skin from the harsh effects of cold weather, keeping it soft, soothed and hydrated.